Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-05-04
Pistol Shooting.

The increase of interest in revolver
shooting has aroused tho makers of
pistols and cartridges to a realization
of the fact that an improvement in
their line of work is demanded, writes
a New York correspondent of The St.
Louis Republican. Good pistol-shots
have demonstrated that the sights plac-
ed upon pistols in the factory are crude
devices, and that the regulation fixed
ammunition for revolvers is not adapted
to the weapons. The proportions of
powder and lead in a revolver cartridge
are notadjusted to give the best results.
A pistol is a ~shortrange weapon, and
it is carried usually for purposes of de-
Tense in close encounters. To load
such a weapon with powder enough to
send a bullet a quarter of a mile is abb
surd. A smaller charge is just as effec-
tive and insures greater. accuracy of
aim. The distances for target practice
are from twelve to twenty yards, For
all practical purposes the shorter range
is sufficient. Experiments by Prot.
Conlin and the experts who use his
gallery have shown that powder charges
of five grains for the small bores and
from six to eight grains for the large
revolvers are heavy enough and give
better results in accuracy than can be
got from the factory ammunition.
These men have been using their own
ammunition for some time, and doing
work with the revolver that makes the
manufacturers open their eyes.
MI. Thomas, of the Bridgeport
ammunition factory, has made several
trips to New York to see the shooting.
He has satifed himself that special
ammunition must be made for accurate
revolver practice. The best results are
obtained with a cast round ball propel-
ed by six grains of fine quick powder.
The old conical bullet made a ragged
hole and was liable to turn and key
hole the target. The round ball cuts
as clean a hole asa sharp. punch. To
fix the proper charge for fifty yards Mr..
Thomas is making tests at Bridgeport,
following the suggestions of the shoot
ers and working out some ideas of his
own.
Making cartridges to suit the men
who use revolvers is a new departure.
Heretofore the pistol-makers have
dictated the form of ammunition and
have ordered as heavy charges for
pocket weapons as for horse pistols.
Whether the gallery men will buy the
new factory cartridges for practice or
load shells for themselves will depend
upon the action of the cartridge-makers,
who have combined to keep up the
price of their goods. Formerly one
hundred 3S-caliber central fire cartridge
es were sold at 81 at retail. Now they
cost 1925, and there is no discount if
the purchasers takes half a million.
That is the reason why Conlin and Other
gallerymen load their own shells.
The extent to which cartrides are used
may be judged from the output of the
factories. The Bridgeport concern
turn out 500 900 small 22s and 1,5OO,-
900 of other sizes every day; the Win
chester make the same number, and
three other factories produce about L.
100000 together. In all nearly 6,000,-
900 cartridges are made every day, or
1000, 900, 900 a year. A great number
are sent abroad. Most of the 22s are
used in shooting-galleries. There is a
gallery demand for SIS, 3Ss. and As,
andi if the policemen try to learn some
thing about the use of the weapons they
carry so that the lives of all of the res
identsO of a precinct may not be en-
daugered every time a dog has a fit,
powder enough will be burned to make
the gallery trade worth something to
the cartridge trade. One man stands
ready to take ESQ, 900 cartridges on a
| contract if the combination will make
it's prices reasonable.